The
GuptaEmpireEmpire was an ancient Indian empire, which existed at its
zenith from approximately 240 to 605 CE and covered much of the Indian
subcontinent.[1] This period is called the
Golden AgeGolden Age of
India.[2][note 1] The ruling dynasty of the empire was founded by Sri
Gupta; the most notable rulers of the dynasty were Chandragupta I,
Samudragupta, and Chandragupta II. The 5th-century CE
SanskritSanskrit poet
KalidasaKalidasa credits the Guptas with having conquered about twenty-one
kingdoms, both in and outside India, including the kingdoms of
Parasikas, the Hunas, the Kambojas, tribes located in the west and
east
OxusOxus valleys, the Kinnaras, Kiratas, and others.[4][non-primary
source needed]
The high points of this period are the great cultural developments
which took place during the reign of Chandragupta II. All literary
sources, such as
MahabharataMahabharata and Ramayana, were canonised during this
period.[5] The
Gupta period produced scholars such as Kalidasa,
Aryabhata, Varahamihira,
Vishnu SharmaVishnu Sharma and
Vatsyayana who made great
advancements in many academic fields.[6][7] Science and political
administration reached new heights during the
Gupta era. The period
gave rise to achievements in architecture, sculpture, and painting
that "set standards of form and taste [that] determined the whole
subsequent course of art, not only in
IndiaIndia but far beyond her
borders".[8] Strong trade ties also made the region an important
cultural center and established the region as a base that would
influence nearby kingdoms and regions in Burma, Sri Lanka, and
Southeast Asia.[9][unreliable source?] The Puranas, earlier long poems
on a variety of subjects, are also thought to have been committed to
written texts around this period.[8]
The empire eventually died out because of many factors such as
substantial loss of territory and imperial authority caused by their
own erstwhile feudatories, as well as the invasion by the Huna peoples
(
KidaritesKidarites and Alchon Huns) from Central Asia.[10][11] After the
collapse of the
GuptaEmpireEmpire in the 6th century,
IndiaIndia was again ruled
by numerous regional kingdoms. A minor line of the
Gupta clan
continued to rule
MagadhaMagadha after the disintegration of the empire.
These Guptas were ultimately ousted by the Vardhana ruler Harsha, who
established his empire in the first half of the 7th century.[citation
needed]

According to many scholars and historians, the
Gupta Dynasty was of
VaishyaVaishya origin.[12][13] Historian
Ram Sharan SharmaRam Sharan Sharma asserts that the
VaishyaVaishya Guptas "appeared as a reaction against oppressive rulers".[14]
A.S. Altekar, a historian and archaeologist, who has written several
books on
Gupta coinage,[15] also regarded the caste of the Guptas as
VaishyaVaishya on the basis of the ancient Indian texts on law, which
associate the
Gupta name suffix with a member of the
VaishyaVaishya caste.
According to historian Michael C. Brannigan, the rise of the Gupta
EmpireEmpire was one of the most prominent violations of the caste system in
ancient India.[13]
However
GuptaEmpireEmpire records and Chinese records provided by the later
I-Tsing, furnished the names of the first three rulers of the Gupta
Dynasty: Maharaja Sri Gupta, Maharaja Sri Ghatotkacha and
Ghatotokacha's son, and
MaharajadhirajaMaharajadhiraja Sri Chandragupta, who is
considered the first
Gupta emperor. Recently, the historian Ashvini
Agarwal, on the basis of the matrimonial alliances of the Guptas with
the Vakataka, assumed that they belong to the
BrahminBrahmin caste.[16]
Another modern historian, S. Chattopaddhyaya, has put forth a
different theory about the ancestry of the Guptas. According to him,
in the
PanchobhPanchobh Copper Plate, some kings bearing the title Guptas and
related to the imperial
Gupta Dynasty, claimed themselves as Vaishyas.
Nepalese historian D. R. Regmi says that the imperial Guptas were
descendants of
Abhira Guptas who had ruled the Kathmandu valley in
present-day Nepal.[17][18]
Original homeland of the Guptas[edit]
There is controversy among scholars about the original homeland of the
Guptas. Jayaswal has pointed out that the Guptas were originally
inhabitants of
PrayagaPrayaga (Allahabad), Uttar Pradesh, in north India, as
the vassal of the Nagas or Bhaarshivas. Thereafter they rose in
prominence. Another scholar, Gayal supported the theory of Jayaswal,
suggesting that the original home of the Guptas was
AntarvediAntarvedi and
embracing the regions of Oudh and Prayag. These historians have
derived their theory from several
Gupta Dynasty coins found in those
regions, and this study of numismatic evidence led to the theory that
the Guptas were the original inhabitants of that region of
northeastern India. However, another historian of this time in Indian
history, D. K. Ganguly, has offered a different view about the
original
Gupta homeland. According to him the Guptas' homeland is
further south, the
MurshidabadMurshidabad region of Bengal, and not
MagadhaMagadha in
Bihar. He based his theory on the statement of the Chinese Buddhist
monk, Yijing (I-Tsing), who visited
IndiaIndia during 675 and 695 CE. J. F.
Fleet and other historians, however, criticize Ganguly's theory
because
Sri GuptaSri Gupta ruled during the end of the 3rd century, but Yijing
placed him at the end of the 2nd century. Hence the theory of
historians, who have provided their views based on the accounts of
Yijing, are considered less valid than theories based on other sources
such as coinage.
From these theories, several conflicting opinions about the original
homeland and the
EmpireEmpire of the Guptas are available. According to John
Allan and a few other scholars, the Guptas were initially concentrated
in the region of
MagadhaMagadha and from there they extended their sway to
Bengal. According to other groups, the original homeland of the Guptas
was
VarendriVarendri or the Varendra Bhumi in Bengal, wherefrom they extended
their
EmpireEmpire to Magadha. Whatever the theory is, the rule of the
Guptas initiated the
Golden AgeGolden Age in history of ancient
IndiaIndia and with
passage of time they became the sole authority of entire Northern
India.
Bengali historians like HC Raychoudhuri the Guptas originated from the
VarendriVarendri region which is now part of Rangpur and
Rajshahi DivisionRajshahi Division of
modern-day Bangladesh. D.C. Ganguly, on the other hand, considers the
surrounding region of
MurshidabadMurshidabad as the original home of the
Guptas.[19]
History[edit]
Srigupta and Ghatotkacha[edit]
The most likely time for the reign of
Sri GuptaSri Gupta is c. 240–280.[20]
The Murundas, who were feudal lords of Kushans, provided or granted
land to Sri Gupta. He can be considered the first person of Gupta's
empire, but not the founder of the empire. His son and successor
Ghatotkacha ruled presumably from c. 280–319. He challenged other
feudal lords and conquered their lands. In contrast to his successor,
Chandragupta I, who is mentioned as Maharajadhiraja, he and his son
Ghatotkacha are referred to in inscriptions as Maharaja.[21] At the
beginning of the 4th century, the Guptas established and ruled a few
small
HinduHindu kingdoms in
MagadhaMagadha and around modern-day Bihar.
Yijing[22] also mentioned
Sri GuptaSri Gupta in his writings. He was succeeded
by his son Ghatotkacha.
Chandragupta I[edit]
Main article: Chandragupta I

Queen Kumaradevi and King Chandragupta I, depicted on a coin of their
son Samudragupta, 335–380.

Ghatotkacha reigned from about 280 CE to 319 CE, and had a son named
Chandragupta (reigned c. 320–335 CE) His son is not to be confused
with
Chandragupta MauryaChandragupta Maurya (322–298 BCE), founder of the Mauryan
Empire. In a breakthrough deal, Chandragupta was married to
Kumaradevi, a Lichchhavi princess—the main power in Magadha. With a
dowry of the kingdom of
MagadhaMagadha (capital Pataliputra) and an alliance
with the Licchavis of Nepal, Chandragupta set about expanding his
power, conquering much of Magadha, Prayaga, and Saketa. He established
a realm stretching from the
Ganges RiverGanges River to
PrayagaPrayaga (modern-day
Allahabad) by 321. He assumed the imperial title of Maharajadhiraja.
He expanded his empire through marriage alliances.
Samudragupta[edit]
Main article: Samudragupta

Samudragupta, Parakramanka succeeded his father in 335, and ruled for
about 45 years, until his death in 380. He took the kingdoms of
Ahichchhatra and Padmavati early in his reign. He then attacked the
Malwas, the Yaudheyas, the Arjunayanas, the Maduras and the Abhiras,
all of which were tribes in the area. By his death in 380, he had
incorporated over twenty kingdoms into his realm and his rule extended
from the
HimalayasHimalayas to the river
NarmadaNarmada and from the Brahmaputra to
the Yamuna. He gave himself the titles King of Kings and World
Monarch. Historian Vincent Smith described him as the "Indian
Napoleon".[23] He performed Ashwamedha Yajna in which a horse with an
army is sent to all the nearby territories of friends and foes. These
territorial kings on arrival either accept the king's alliance, who is
performing this Yajna, or fight if they do not. The stone replica of
the horse, then prepared, is in the Lucknow Museum. The Samudragupta
Prashasti inscribed on the Ashokan Pillar, now in Akbar’s Fort at
Allahabad, is an authentic record of his exploits and his sway over
most of the continent.
SamudraguptaSamudragupta was not only a talented military leader but also a great
patron of art and literature. He conquered what is now
KashmirKashmir and
Afghanistan, enlarging the empire.[24] The critical scholars present
in his court were Harishena, Vasubandhu, and Asanga. He was a poet and
musician himself. He was a firm believer in
HinduismHinduism and is known to
have worshipped Lord Vishnu. He was considerate of other religions and
allowed Sri Lanka's
BuddhistBuddhist king Sirimeghvanna to build a monastery
at Bodh Gaya. That monastery was called by
XuanzangXuanzang as the Mahabodhi
Sangharama.[25][unreliable source?] He provided a gold railing around
the Bodhi Tree.
Ramagupta[edit]

Main article: Ramagupta
Although, the narrative of the Devichandragupta is not supported by
any contemporary epigraphical evidence, the historicity of Rama Gupta
is proved by his Durjanpur inscriptions on three Jaina images, where
he is mentioned as the Maharajadhiraja. A large number of his copper
coins also have been found from the Eran-
VidishaVidisha region and classified
in five distinct types, which include the Garuda,[26] Garudadhvaja,
lion and border legend types. The
BrahmiBrahmi legends on these coins are
written in the early
Gupta style.[27] In the opinion of art historian
Dr. R. A. Agarawala, D. Litt., Rama
Gupta may be the eldest son of
Samudragupta. He became king because of being the eldest. It is
possible that he was dethroned because of being considered unfit to
rule, and his younger brother
Chandragupta IIChandragupta II took over.
Chandragupta IIChandragupta II "Vikramaditya"[edit]
Main article: Chandragupta II

Despite the creation of the empire through war, the reign is
remembered for its very influential style of
HinduHindu art, literature,
culture and science, especially during the reign of Chandragupta II.
Some excellent works of
HinduHindu art such as the panels at the
Dashavatara TempleDashavatara Temple in Deogarh serve to illustrate the magnificence of
Gupta art. Above all it was the synthesis of elements that gave Gupta
art its distinctive flavour. During this period, the Guptas were
supportive of thriving
BuddhistBuddhist and
JainJain cultures as well, and for
this reason there is also a long history of non-
HinduHinduGupta period
art. In particular,
Gupta period
Buddhist artBuddhist art was to be influential in
most of East and Southeast Asia. Many advances were recorded by the
Chinese scholar and traveller
FaxianFaxian (Fa-hien) in his diary and
published afterwards.
The court of Chandragupta was made even more illustrious by the fact
that it was graced by the Navaratna (Nine Jewels), a group of nine who
excelled in the literary arts. Amongst these men was the immortal
KālidāsaKālidāsa whose works dwarfed the works of many other literary
geniuses, not only in his own age but in the years to come. Kalidasa
was mainly known for his subtle exploitation of the shringara
(romantic) element in his verse.
Chandragupta II's Campaigns against Foreign Tribes[edit]
The 4th century
SanskritSanskrit poet
KalidasaKalidasa credits Chandragupta
Vikramaditya with conquering about twenty one kingdoms, both in and
outside India. After finishing his campaign in East and West India,
Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) proceeded northwards, subjugated the
Parasikas, then the
HunasHunas and the
KambojasKambojas tribes located in the west
and east
OxusOxus valleys respectively. Thereafter, the king proceeded
into the
HimalayaHimalaya mountains to reduce the mountain tribes of the
Kinnaras, Kiratas, as well as
IndiaIndia proper.[4][non-primary source
needed]
The Brihatkathamanjari of the Kashmiri writer
Kshemendra states, King
Vikramaditya (Chandragupta II) had "unburdened the sacred earth of the
Barbarians like the Sakas, Mlecchas, Kambojas, Yavanas, Tusharas,
Parasikas, Hunas, and others, by annihilating these sinful Mlecchas
completely".[29][non-primary source needed][30][31][unreliable
source?]
Faxian[edit]
FaxianFaxian (or Fa Hsien etc.), a Chinese Buddhist, was one of the pilgrims
who visited
IndiaIndia during the reign of the
Gupta emperor Chandragupta
II. He started his journey from
ChinaChina in 399 and reached
IndiaIndia in 405.
During his stay in
IndiaIndia up to 411, he went on a pilgrimage to
Mathura, Kannauj, Kapilavastu, Kushinagar, Vaishali, Pataliputra,
Kashi, and Rajagriha, and made careful observations about the empire's
conditions.
FaxianFaxian was pleased with the mildness of administration.
The Penal Code was mild and offenses were punished by fines only. From
his accounts, the
GuptaEmpireEmpire was a prosperous period. And until the
Rome-
ChinaChina trade axis was broken with the fall of the Han dynasty, the
Guptas' did indeed prosper. His writings form one of the most
important sources for the history of this period.
Kumaragupta I[edit]
Main article: Kumaragupta I

Silver coin of the
Gupta King
Kumaragupta IKumaragupta I (
CoinCoin of his Western
territories, design derived from the Western Satraps).
Obv: Bust of king with crescents, with traces of corrupt Greek
script.[32][33]
Rev:
GarudaGaruda standing facing with spread wings.
BrahmiBrahmi legend:
Parama-bhagavata rajadhiraja Sri Kumaragupta Mahendraditya.

Chandragupta IIChandragupta II was succeeded by his second son Kumaragupta I, born of
Mahadevi Dhruvasvamini.
Kumaragupta IKumaragupta I assumed the title,
Mahendraditya.[34] He ruled until 455. Towards the end of his reign a
tribe in the
NarmadaNarmada valley, the Pushyamitras, rose in power to
threaten the empire. The
KidaritesKidarites as well probably confronted the
GuptaEmpireEmpire towards the end of the rule of Kumaragupta I, as his son
SkandaguptaSkandagupta mentions in the Bhitari pillar inscription his efforts at
reshaping a country in disarray, through reorganization and military
victories over the
PushyamitrasPushyamitras and the Hunas.[35]
He was the founder of
NalandaNalanda University which on July 15, 2016 was
declared as a UNESCO world heritage site.[36]
Skandagupta[edit]
Main article: Skandagupta
Skandagupta, son and successor of
Kumaragupta IKumaragupta I is generally
considered to be the last of the great
Gupta rulers. He assumed the
titles of Vikramaditya and Kramaditya.[37] He defeated the Pushyamitra
threat, but then was faced with invading
KidaritesKidarites (sometimes
described as the Hephthalites or "White Huns", known in
IndiaIndia as the
Sweta Huna), from the northwest.
He repelled a Huna attack around 455 CE, but the expense of the wars
drained the empire's resources and contributed to its decline. The
Bhitari Pillar inscription of Skandagupta, the successor of
Chandragupta, recalls the near-annihilation of the
Gupta Empire
following the attacks of the Kidarites.[38] The
KidaritesKidarites seem to have
retained the western part of the
Gupta Empire.[38]
SkandaguptaSkandagupta died in 467 and was succeeded by his agnate brother
Purugupta.[39]
Decline of the empire[edit]

These invasions, although only spanning a few decades, had long term
effects on India, and in a sense brought an end to Classical Indian
civilization.[44] Soon after the invasions, the
Gupta Empire, already
weakened by these invasions and the rise of local rulers such as
Yashodharman, ended as well.[45] Following the invasions, northern
IndiaIndia was left in disarray, with numerous smaller Indian powers
emerging after the crumbling of the Guptas.[46] The Huna invasions are
said to have seriously damaged India's trade with
EuropeEurope and Central
Asia.[44] In particular, Indo-Roman trade relations, which the Gupta
EmpireEmpire had greatly benefited from. The Guptas had been exporting
numerous luxury products such as silk, leather goods, fur, iron
products, ivory, pearl, and pepper from centers such as Nasik,
Paithan, Pataliputra, and Benares. The Huna invasion probably
disrupted these trade relations and the tax revenues that came with
them.[47]
Furthermore, Indian urban culture was left in decline, and Buddhism,
gravely weakened by the destruction of monasteries and the killing of
monks, started to collapse.[44] Great centers of learning were
destroyed, such as the city of Taxila, bringing cultural
regression.[44] During their rule of 60 years, the Alchons are said to
have altered the hierarchy of ruling families and the Indian cast
system. For example, the
HunasHunas are often said to have become the
precursors of the Rajputs.[44]
The succession of the 6th-century Guptas is not entirely clear, but
the tail end recognized ruler of the dynasty's main line was king
Vishnugupta, reigning from 540 to 550. In addition to the Hun
invasion, the factors, which contribute to the decline of the empire
include competition from the
VakatakasVakatakas and the rise of
YashodharmanYashodharman in
Malwa.[48]
The last known inscription by a
Gupta emperor is from the reign of
Vishnugupta (the Damodarpur copper-plate inscription),[49] in which he
makes a land grant in the area of
KotivarshaKotivarsha (
BangarhBangarh in West Bengal)
in 542/543 CE.[50] This follows the occupation of most of northern and
central
IndiaIndia by the
AulikaraAulikara ruler
YashodharmanYashodharman circa 532 CE.[50]
Military organization[edit]

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The Imperial Guptas couldn't have achieved their successes through
force of arms without an efficient martial system. Historically, the
best accounts of this not only come from Indian sources themselves but
from Chinese and Western observers. However, a contemporary Indian
document, regarded as a military classic of the time, the
Siva-Dhanur-veda, offers some insight into the military system of the
Guptas.[citation needed]
The Guptas seem to have relied heavily on infantry archers, and the
bow was one of the dominant weapons of their army. The Indian version
of the longbow was composed of metal, or more typically bamboo, and
fired a long bamboo cane arrow with a metal head.[citation needed]
Unlike the composite bows of Western and Central Asian foes, bows of
this design would be less prone to warping in the damp and moist
conditions often prevalent to the region. The Indian longbow was
reputedly a powerful weapon capable of great range and penetration and
provided an effective counter to invading horse archers. Iron shafts
were used against armored elephants and fire arrows were not part of
the bowmen's arsenal, contrary to popular belief.
IndiaIndia historically
has had a prominent reputation for its steel weapons. One of these was
the steel bow. Because of its high tensility, the steel bow was
capable of long range and penetration of exceptionally thick armor.
These were less common weapons than the bamboo design and found in the
hands of noblemen rather than in the ranks. Archers were frequently
protected by infantry equipped with shields, javelins, and longswords.
The Guptas also had knowledge of siegecraft, catapults, and other
sophisticated war machines.[citation needed]
The Guptas apparently showed little predilection for using horse
archers, despite the fact these warriors were a primary component in
the ranks of their Scythian, Parthian, and Hepthalite (Huna) enemies.
However, the
Gupta armies were probably better disciplined. Able
commanders such as
SamudraguptaSamudragupta and
Chandragupta IIChandragupta II would have likely
understood the need for combined armed tactics and proper logistical
organization.
Gupta military success likely stemmed from the concerted
use of elephants, armored cavalry, steel bow and foot archers in
tandem against both
HinduHindu kingdoms and foreign armies invading from
the Northwest. The Guptas also maintained a navy, allowing them to
control regional waters.[citation needed]
The collapse of the
GuptaEmpireEmpire in the face of the Huna onslaught was
due not directly to the inherent defects of the
Gupta army, which
after all had initially defeated these people under Skandagupta. More
likely, internal dissolution sapped the ability of the Guptas to
resist foreign invasion, as was simultaneously occurring in Western
EuropeEurope and China.[citation needed]
During the reign of Chandragupta II,
GuptaEmpireEmpire maintained a large
army consisting of 500,000 infantry, 50,000 cavalry, 20,000
charioteers and 10,000 elephants[citation needed] along with a
powerful navy with more than 1200 ships[citation needed]. Chandragupta
II controlled the whole of the Indian subcontinent;[1] the Gupta
empire was the most powerful empire in the world during his reign, at
a time when the
Roman EmpireRoman Empire in the West was in decline.[citation
needed]
Religion[edit]

The Guptas were traditionally a
HinduHindu dynasty.[51] They were orthodox
Hindus, but did not force their beliefs on the rest of the population,
as
BuddhismBuddhism and
JainismJainism also were encouraged.[52]
SanchiSanchi remained an
important center of Buddhism.[52]
Kumaragupta IKumaragupta I (c. 414 – c. 455
CE) is said to have founded Nalanda.[52]
Some later rulers however seem to have especially favoured Buddhism.
NarasimhaguptaNarasimhagupta Baladitya (c. 495-?), according to contemporary writer
Paramartha, was brought up under the influence of the Mahayanist
philosopher, Vasubandhu.[51] He built a sangharama at
NalandaNalanda and also
a 300 ft (91 m) high vihara with a
BuddhaBuddha statue within
which, according to Xuanzang, resembled the "great
ViharaVihara built under
the Bodhi tree". According to the
ManjushrimulakalpaManjushrimulakalpa (c. 800 CE), king
Narasimhsagupta became a
BuddhistBuddhist monk, and left the world through
meditation (Dhyana).[51] The Chinese monk
XuanzangXuanzang also noted that
NarasimhaguptaNarasimhagupta Baladitya's son, Vajra, who commissioned a sangharama
as well, "possessed a heart firm in faith".[53]:45[54]:330
Gupta administration[edit]
A study of the epigraphical records of the
Gupta empire shows that
there was a hierarchy of administrative divisions from top to bottom.
The empire was called by various names such as Rajya, Rashtra, Desha,
Mandala, Prithvi and Avani. It was divided into 26 provinces, which
were styled as Bhukti, Pradesha and Bhoga. Provinces were also divided
into Vishayas and put under the control of the Vishayapatis. A
Vishayapati administered the Vishaya with the help of the Adhikarana
(council of representatives), which comprised four representatives:
Nagarasreshesthi, Sarthavaha, Prathamakulike and Prathama Kayastha. A
part of the Vishaya was called Vithi.[55] There were also trade links
of
Gupta business with the Roman empire.
Legacy of the
Gupta Empire[edit]

Scholars of this period include
VarahamihiraVarahamihira and Aryabhata, who is
believed to be the first to come up with the concept of zero,
postulated the theory that the Earth moves round the Sun, and studied
solar and lunar eclipses. Kalidasa, who was a great playwright, who
wrote plays such as Shakuntala, and marked the highest point of
SanskritSanskrit literature is also said to have belonged to this period. The
SushrutaSushruta Samhita, which is a
SanskritSanskrit redaction text on all of the
major concepts of ayurvedic medicine with innovative chapters on
surgery, dates to the
Gupta period.
ChessChess is said to have originated in this period,[56] where its early
form in the 6th century was known as caturaṅga, which translates as
"four divisions [of the military]" – infantry, cavalry, elephantry,
and chariotry – represented by the pieces that would evolve into the
modern pawn, knight, bishop, and rook, respectively. Doctors also
invented several medical instruments, and even performed operations.
The
Indian numeralsIndian numerals which were the first positional base 10 numeral
systems in the world originated from
Gupta India. The ancient Gupta
text
Kama SutraKama Sutra by the Indian scholar
Vatsyayana is widely considered
to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit
literature.
Aryabhata, a noted mathematician-astronomer of the
Gupta period
proposed that the earth is round and rotates about its own axis. He
also discovered that the Moon and planets shine by reflected sunlight.
Instead of the prevailing cosmogony in which eclipses were caused by
pseudo-planetary nodes
RahuRahu and Ketu, he explained eclipses in terms
of shadows cast by and falling on Earth.[57]
Art and architecture[edit]

A tetrastyle prostyle
Gupta period temple at
SanchiSanchi besides the
Apsidal hall with
MauryaMaurya foundation, an example of Buddhist
architecture. 5th century CE.

The
Gupta period is generally regarded as a classic peak of North
Indian artIndian art for all the major religious groups. Although painting was
evidently widespread, the surviving works are almost all religious
sculpture. The period saw the emergence of the iconic carved stone
deity in
HinduHindu art, as well as the
BuddhaBuddha figure and
JainJain tirthankara
figures, the latter often on a very large scale. The two great centres
of sculpture were
MathuraMathura and Gandhara, the latter the centre of
Greco-
BuddhistBuddhist art. Both exported sculpture to other parts of northern
India. Unlike the preceding
Kushan EmpireKushan Empire there was no artistic
depiction of the monarchs, even in the very fine Guptan coinage,[58]
with the exception of some coins of the Western Satraps, or influenced
by them.

The most famous remaining monuments in a broadly
Gupta style, the
caves at Ajanta, Elephanta, and Ellora (respectively Buddhist, Hindu,
and mixed including Jain) were in fact produced under later dynasties,
but primarily reflect the monumentality and balance of Guptan style.
Ajanta contains by far the most significant survivals of painting from
this and the surrounding periods, showing a mature form which had
probably had a long development, mainly in painting palaces.[59] The
HinduHinduUdayagiri CavesUdayagiri Caves actually record connections with the dynasty and
its ministers,[60] and the
Dashavatara TempleDashavatara Temple at Deogarh is a major
temple, one of the earliest to survive, with important sculpture.[61]